The charming villages of Bridell, Rhoshill and Pen Y Bryn, are set amid beautiful Welsh countryside, yet just a short drive from the bustling historic town of Cardigan and charming Crymych with its shops, schools and GP surgery.

If you’re looking for a house for sale in Pembrokeshire, here you will find a choice of both traditional older style properties, alongside new build and renovation projects, providing something for a wide range of budgets.

If you’d like to find out more about life in these villages or elsewhere in West Wales and Cardigan Bay, please get in touch with Helen or Tania. You can also read about many of the other villages where we have properties for sale in our location guides.

History

The history of this area dates back centuries and offers plenty to discover, with prehistoric remains to be seen in the nearby Preseli Mountains. 

The village of Bridell is shown on a parish map of Pembrokeshire dating from 1578, and you can visit St David’s church which has a 2.7m high cross in its churchyard, with the stone believed to date from the 5th century.

Pen Y Bryn, which means top of the hill, has the Pen Y Bryn pub in the centre of the village, which dates back to at least the 18th century. There is also the Grade II listed Pen Y Bryn Baptist Chapel, which was founded in 1818.

Rhoshill formed part of the drovers’ road, which was the main route for moving livestock from Ireland to elsewhere in Wales and England. There is also the Tŷ Rhos Chapel, built in 1815 and rebuilt in 1859, which is now a Grade II listed building.

Tourism & Recreation

For anyone looking for a home for sale in Pembrokeshire, this picturesque area offers a whole host of activities to enjoy. Some of the most popular include walking and cycling, as well as surfing in the clean waters of Cardigan Bay and the West Wales coast.

For keen walkers there are plenty of trails and picturesque lanes to discover, but if you want something more challenging then the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path starts in St Dogmaels (around 10 minutes away from these villages ) and runs south for 186 miles to Amroth. The Pembrokeshire Coastal Path also forms part of the famed Wales Coast Path and the International Appalachian Trail. 

Heading north from Cardigan you can also explore the Ceredigion Coastal Path, which weaves its way 60 miles along the coast to Ynyslas and offers fabulous views of Cardigan Bay. Keep a lookout for sea life such as dolphins and seals that live in these waters. 

The famed Preseli Mountains are also just a short drive away, providing the chance to discover prehistoric landscapes and ancient sites, and offering plenty of choice for walkers and mountain bikers. 

The area is also hugely popular with cyclists. Quiet roads and picturesque scenery are a major attraction for road bikers, and for mountain bikers both Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion offer plenty of trails to discover for all fitness levels. 

Horse riders too will love the area, with bridleways and tracks providing a wide range of routes. Not far from these villages is the Havard Stables, which is a BHS approved riding centre with an outdoor arena and provides lessons for all abilities, as well as a range of children’s clubs.

But perhaps one of the main reasons people choose to live in this area is the close proximity of some of the UK’s best beaches. The blue flag Poppit Sands Beach is about a 15 minute drive away, and its clean waters and sand dunes make it very popular with families. Lifeguards are here in the summer months, and it’s also a great place to watch – or try – power kiting and kite boarding. 

Alternatively, Newport Sands beach is around 20 minutes away and is loved by water sports enthusiasts. If you want to try sailing, canoeing or windsurfing this is a good place to start, while surfing is hugely popular here and many West Wales beaches offer surf lessons.

On the far side of Cardigan there’s also Gwbert (15 to 20 minutes away), a clifftop hamlet that offers wonderful views and is home to the Cardigan Golf Club if golf is your preferred sport.

There is a range of sporting activities at Cardigan Leisure Centre which offers spin, circuit training and junior gym sessions and Cardigan Swimming & Fitness Centre offers lessons, exercise classes and after school activities.

For the latest film releases Cardigan has the Mwldan cinema, while at Cilgerran, there is the beautiful Rhosygilwen, a historic country retreat with beautiful gardens that you can visit. It also offers accommodation, hosts a range of events and is a popular venue for weddings.

Shopping

The closest convenience store to these villages is in Cilgerran – the Village Stores and Off Licence, or Siop y Pentre. It sells a range of fresh produce and there’s a Post Office there too.

For large supermarkets, high street names and smaller specialist stores, residents here go to Cardigan. Here there’s a Tesco, a Spar and an Aldi, but there are also numerous independent shops selling everything from surf boards and gear, to antiques, clothes, art supplies and local foods. You’ll also find hairdressers and beauty salons here, as well as the Guildhall Market – a Grade II listed building that has over 20 different retailers for you to discover. 

Cardigan also has high street banks – Lloyds, Barclays and HSBC, as well as a Post Office on the High Street.

Eating & Drinking

West Wales has a growing reputation for fresh, locally produced ingredients and innovative dishes, and you’ll find some fantastic pubs and restaurants in Cardigan and the surrounding area.

The Rampin in nearby Cilgerran is an authentic Welsh pub, serving local beers, food and hosting a range of events. A little further away at Llechryd there is the Flambards Hotel & Tea Room, which has dishes such as Welsh rack of lamb, duck breast and a children’s menu. It also has rooms if you are visiting the area during your property search.

In Cardigan you’ll find a variety of restaurants such as the popular Pizzatipi – which has a lovely courtyard beside the river, and serves freshly made pizzas, breads, desserts and welsh craft beers. There’s also the Priory Restaurant, which has a fantastic selection of home made dishes ranging from chicken and white wine pie, to scotch eggs, wild berry crumble and limoncello trifle!

If you love fresh seafood then you should definitely head to the Fisherman’s Rest and Catch of the Day – which is both a fishmongers and a cafe – don’t miss their Taster events! There’s a great homemade burger place – The Cabin, which also sells some very enticing sweet treats, while if you fancy dining in Cardigan Castle try its 1176 restaurant.

Healthcare

The closest GPs surgery to these villages is in Cardigan, which has its dedicated Health Centre. This is open every day from 8,30am until 1pm and from 2pm until 6.30pm. There are nurse practitioners here as well as doctors, and e-consultations are also available.  

Rhoshill is also close to Crymych, where you’ll also find a medical centre, which is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5.30pm. Depending where you live will probably determine which surgery you register with.

When you come to register with a dentist, you’ll find a choice of dental practices in Cardigan – Cardigan Dental Practice, located in the Integrated Care Centre, the Feidr Fair Dental Practice, and the Charsfield Dental Surgery. Whichever one you choose, all are open five days a week.

We would also recommend the West Wales Chiropractors in Blaenporth (about 15 minutes away) if you have problems with your back.

Finally, if you have pets then the closest vets are in Cardigan and Crymych – both are Priory Vets and they have a farm and equine department, as well as small animals.

Schools

If you’re moving to the area with children that are of primary school age, then the closest school is in the village of Cilgerran – Ysgol Cilgerran. Cilgerran is just a three minute drive from Pen Y Bryn and Rhos Hill, and five minutes from Bridell. The school is set in the centre of the village and also has an Early Years Centre.

If you have older children, then secondary education is at Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi in Cardigan. This is a bilingual school with good exam results, and they offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities.

Cardigan also has a further education college – Coleg Ceredigion, which offers full time, part time and online courses, as well as apprenticeships. A wide range of subjects includes everything from the performing arts and automotive studies, to furniture design and ICT.

This area also benefits from being just over an hour from the University of Aberystwyth, which attracts students from around the world and offers both undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

Finally, if you have a young child with severe learning difficulties, disabilities or autism, we would recommend you consider Canolfan y Don Aberporth School (15 – 20 minutes from these villages). It welcomes children up to the age of 11 and has a range of specialist facilities.

Transport

This area offers a lovely rural escape in West Wales, but with the convenience of regular bus services to the larger town of Cardigan from all three of these villages. You can check times and daily schedules on this journey planner.

The villages are also about 30 minutes from Fishguard, where you can catch a train to both Swansea and Cardiff. You can find out more about the timings here.

Fishguard Harbour also has regular ferry services with Stena Line to Rosslare in Ireland, making it easy to explore Ireland.

Find out more…

To help you find out more about West Wales and life here, below you’ll find a few more websites that may be of help in your research. However, as a specialist estate agent in Pembrokeshire we’re always happy to help and share our experience and insight into living in this beautiful area. Please give us a call on 01239 562 500 and we’ll happily answer your questions to help you plan your move to Cardigan Bay or West Wales. 

• Things to Do – Click Here
• Primary schools – Click Here
• Transport – Click Here and Here
• Property management and lettings – Click Here